Chasing Childhood (2021)

In todays highly charged world of structure stranger danger and helicopter parenting free play in childhood has disappeared giving way to unprecedented anxiety and depression This phenomenon impacts kids from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds Childrens lives are consumed with walltowall activities and constant monitoringthe overprotected overdirected overpressured childhood is the new normal This film takes us to schools in affluent Wilton CT working class Patchogue NY and metropolitan Manhattan Throughout these different stories a central question emerges How can we eschew harmful parenting strategies and empower our kids to become their most fully realized authentic selves The film offers possible solutions as journalist Lenore Skenazy evolutionary psychologist Peter Gray former dean of freshmen at Stanford University Julie LythcottHaims and leaders of the free play movement fight to restore a less curated childhood